Tim Harmston

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Wisconsin is widely known for cheese and other dairy products, of course, so people might not realize it has produced some fine comedic talent over the years as well. Mary Mack, Jackie Kashian, Collin Moulton, Michael Feldman, Andi Smith, Pete Lee, and Tim Harmston are just a few of the names that come to mind. Most of those have spent significant amounts of time in the Twin Cities comedy scene. "I'd have to say the area has a strong support network for the arts," says Harmston, who will headline this week at Acme. "The arts here are held in very high regard. There's a great theater scene, a great music scene, and comedy fits right in." He finds the Minneapolis/St. Paul area unique in that way. "It's a very Midwestern city, but with a lot of culture," he says. Always a popular draw in town, Harmston regales audiences with observations on everything from entertainment and pop culture to the foibles of buying a used car. "The general manager of the dealership asks, 'What's it going to take to get you into this 1983 Chrysler LeBaron?'" he tells an audience. "And I'm like, 'I don't know, glaucoma? Have you seen how ugly it is?' It's the only car I've ever seen with an asshole." Relatable and sometimes silly, Harmston understands that comedy crowds here are sophisticated. "I think the comics that come through set the bar really high," he explains, "and then all the other comics that come behind them try to live up to that standard." 18+. $15. 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 708 N. First St., Minneapolis; 612.338.6393. Wednesday through SaturdayAug. 21-25, 8 p.m.; Aug. 24-25, 10:30 p.m., 2012